The Highly Anticipated Crosslake Connection Opens This Weekend

For many, the thought of driving over the bridge from Seattle to the Eastside (or vice versa) is enough to keep us at home. Who wants to sit in traffic forever, only to have to fight for a parking spot once you finally arrive? And anyone who has found themselves in the unenviable position of having to commute across the water understands just how awful that drive can be. (My husband commuted to the Eastside for a decade; sometimes it took him almost two hours to drive about 15 miles. Brutal.)

But relief is finally in sight. On March 28, the Sound Transit East Link 2 Line will be completed with the opening of the Crosslake Connection, linking Seattle to the Eastside via Interstate 90. This new stretch of light rail will include two new stations — Judkins Park Station in Seattle and Mercer Island Station on the Eastside.

You might be thinking, “wait, didn’t we vote to approve this extension a long time ago?” We sure did. In fact, voters approved this extension in 2008, the same year my son was born. I took him on his first college tour last month.

Opening day celebrations

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate at the opening day festivities which will begin with a ribbon cutting and a street fair on March 28 at 9 a.m. at Sam Smith Park (across the street from the Judkins Park Station East entrance). Events will continue throughout the day at various stations and there will be tons of kid-friendly activities you won’t want to miss, including:

• Live entertainment, kids activities and community booths at the International District/Chinatown Station
• Live entertainment, food, touch-a-firetruck, kids activities and community booths at the South Bellevue Station
• A Bookmobile, giant games, face painting, story time readings, giveaways and more at the Lynnwood City Center Station (hosted by Sno-Isle Libraries)
• A petting zoo, food trucks and vendor booths at the Spring District Station (hosted by Wright Runstad)

Family-friendly things to do at the two new light rail stations

The East Link 2 Line has lots of family-friendly destinations along its route. The link across the water and two new stations will connect families with even more fun!

The Judkins Park Station is about half a mile from the Northwest African American Museum, Jimi Hendrix Park and the Mountain Sound Greenway trail. The station is located across from Judkins Park, which has a skate park, basketball court, playground, spray park and tons of green space for kids to run around.

The Mercer Island station puts you within a mile of Aubrey Davis Park, an over 90-acre park complete with a playground, picnic tables, paved trails, a giant chess board, soccer fields and much more. Head over to the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery to take in some public art.

Common questions about traveling on Seattle light rail

If this new expansion is inspiring you to grab your kids and head out on a light rail adventure, here are a few important details to help your trip run smoothly:

• Can I bring a stroller on the light rail? Yes, you can bring a stroller on light rail. In fact, light rail trains offer level boarding which makes it easy to roll on strollers. There is also dedicated space for mobility devices, which strollers can use if they are not occupied by a wheelchair. Make sure your stroller is not blocking aisles, doors to emergency exits. The stations with platforms above or below street level have stairs, elevators and sometimes escalators, ensuring accessibility for all riders.

• How much does light rail cost? How do I pay? All riders age 18 and younger ride free on all Sound Transit services, which includes light rail. A one-way fare on light rail for adults age 19–64 is $3. You can pick up a day pass for twice the one-way fare, and it will only be valid for travel on the day it is purchased. There are discounts available for low-income households and seniors.

  There are many ways you can pay your fare: with an Orca card, by purchasing a ticket from a station ticket machine or by using the Transit Go app. If you can’t find your Orca card (guilty) or forgot to download the app, don’t worry. In February 2026 contactless payment began. Now you can simply tap your credit or debit card to pay your fare. So convenient!

• How often will the light rail trains run, and when? Trains will run every 8–15 minutes, from 5 a.m. to midnight. And, fun fact, this is the only light rail that goes over a floating bridge in the world!

• Is light rail safe? What if I get separated from my child? Yes, the general consensus is that traveling on light rail with kids is safe. When riding on light rail you might see a variety of Sound Transit staff, ranging from fare ambassadors (who ensure riders pay their fares), to Transit Security and even Sound Transit police (a unit of the King County Sheriff’s Office).

  Whenever you are traveling with kids be sure to follow basic safety practices, such as holding your child’s hand on platforms, staying behind yellow warming strips and maintaining general awareness of your surroundings. Make sure you establish a plan before you head out for what to do if you get separated. If your child somehow ends up on a light rail train without you, tell them to get off at the next stop and to go to a uniformed staff member for help. You can reach Sound Transit security at 206-398-5268 or 911 for emergencies.

From Lynnwood to Federal Way, Redmond to Seattle, Link Light Rail is a great, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to get around the region. So say goodbye to traffic jams and expensive parking, and hello to family-fun and adventure.